8 Favorite Indian Butter Chicken Recipes

Fragrant, slightly spicy Punjabi butter chicken is also known as murgh makhani. This authentic Indian curry consists of tender pieces of marinated char-grilled chicken in a silky smooth, creamy butter and tomato sauce. We've compiled this collection of restaurant-worthy recipes for you so you can recreate the amazing flavors of butter chicken at home!

01 of 09

Indian Butter Chicken (Chicken Makhani)

Indian Butter Chicken in a pot
Melani Padayachee

Spice up your life with this authentic butter chicken recipe - it's tastes fantastic and is very easy to make. If you have trouble finding tandoori masala, it is a blend of paprika, cumin, coriander, garlic, ginger, and cardamom. Save time by adding two tablespoons of cashew butter instead of blending the cashews nuts.

02 of 09

Instant Pot® Indian Butter Chicken

top-down view of chicken curry in a white bowl with Basmati rice, garnished with cilantro
Shauna James Ahren

Chicken thighs are marinated in yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric, garam masala, and ground cumin, then cooked to perfection in an electric pressure cooker with butter, onions, spices, tomatoes, and coconut milk. Serve with rice and naan for a delicious, aromatic Indian meal.

03 of 09

Makhani Chicken (Indian Butter Chicken)

Makhani Chicken (Indian Butter Chicken)
Makhani Chicken (Indian Butter Chicken) | Photo by foxy_girl04.

See how to make an authentic butter chicken recipe with this detailed recipe and video. You'll learn how to make the marinade, how to cook the chicken skewers, and how to make the butter sauce. "This was fabulous!" says reviewer Langlay. "I always wanted to attempt making Indian food, but didn't know where to start. Amazing!"

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04 of 09

Slow cooker Butter Chicken

"What a treat to put this in the crockpot in the morning and have a delicious butter chicken for dinner. This will be cooked frequently at our house," says reviewer Esther. Serve with fluffy basmati rice and warm naan for a home cooked Indian curry that's perfect for any night of the week.

05 of 09

Murgh makhani (Indian butter chicken)

Murgh Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken)
melissao

This is a simple but luscious, buttery chicken curry, seasoned with fragrant fenugreek, Indian chili powder, ginger, garlic, and garam masala. Best served with freshly chopped coriander, basmati rice, and naan bread for mopping up the incredibly tasty sauce.

06 of 09

Easy Indian Butter Chicken

Easy Indian Butter Chicken. Photo by caz981
Easy Indian Butter Chicken. Photo by caz981.

This creamy butter chicken recipe calls for garam masala and tandoori masala. "I loved this recipe for butter chicken! I have tried several and this one will definitely stay in the rotation," says home cook Eric Engwall.

07 of 09

Chicken Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken)

Chicken Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken)
foxy_girl04

This is a quick and easy Indian butter chicken recipe that doesn't skimp on flavor. "Absolutely delicious!" says home cook Tonda Edwards. "I doubled it so we would have leftovers. I made it exactly as the recipe described and it was out of this world delicious!"

08 of 09

Wendy's Indian Butter Chicken

Wendy's Indian Butter Chicken
Wendy's Indian Butter Chicken. barbara

This Indian-inspired butter chicken recipe has the added advantage of plenty of hidden veggies! A puree made from onion, garlic, fresh tomatoes, and green bell pepper is seasoned with garam masala and chili powder. Cream and butter add that classic rich texture that we have come to love!

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